New workers help kiwifruit industry pick and pack

• Around 250
people have been accepted for a variation of conditions to
their visitor visas to work in the labour shortage
declaration in the BOP and extension in Hawkes
Bay.• BOP labour shortage declaration
began 15 April and runs to 27 May 2019.

New
Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated (NZKGI) are pleased
that since the announcement of the declaration on 5 April,
around 250 people have successfully applied to vary the
conditions of their visitor visas to work in the labour
shortage declaration in the Bay of Plenty and extension in
Hawkes Bay. The number is expected to increase sharply over
this week. In 2018, around 230 people successfully applied
for a VOC in the Bay of Plenty over the declaration
period.

This week marks the beginning of the peak of
harvest for the kiwifruit industry in the Bay of Plenty.
More than 18,000 seasonal workers will be required to pick
and pack the iconic piece of kiwiana. The peak is expected
to last until the end of May.

NZKGI CEO Nikki
Johnson says, “while we are pleased our attraction
campaign has increased the number of visitors who have shown
interest to work in the kiwifruit industry, we are likely to
require more workers to pick and pack at season peak.

“As a first priority, we are calling on people who
live in close proximity to orchards and packhouses to roll
up their sleeves and join us in this booming industry.”
Those from further afield are recommended to secure
accommodation before arriving.

Current estimates put
the potential labour shortfall at peak around 3,550 the Bay
of Plenty’s kiwifruit industry. There was a shortfall of
1,200 vacancies at the peak of harvest in 2018. The shortage
places the current workforce under pressure to pick and pack
this years’ estimated volume of over 155 million trays. So
far around a quarter has been picked and packed.

Potential employees who would like to find work in the
kiwifruit industry can find information around employers,
job types and rights on the NZKGI website (www.nzkgi.org.nz). Overseas visitors are
encouraged to visit the Immigration New Zealand website
where detailed information about varying the conditions of a
visa can be found.

Background to the
declaration• NZKGI has been running a media
campaign to promote work in the kiwifruit industry and early
signals indicate that this has gone some way in reducing the
number of vacancies.• NZKGI has recently secured
co-funding and employed a labour coordinator to connect
employers with workers over harvest and analyse current and
future labour demands of the kiwifruit
industry.• Between January and April 2019, MSD has
placed nearly 500 job seekers into the kiwifruit
industry.• The kiwifruit industry continues to have
robust discussions with Government around increasing the
number of workers available under the RSE scheme, as well as
other avenues to meet demand during harvest.• A
University of Waikato report forecasts that the kiwifruit
industry contribution to the Bay of Plenty’s GDP will
increase 135% by 2030 to $2.04 billion and require 14,329
new kiwifruit jobs.• The last declaration of a labour
shortage for the kiwifruit industry was made in 2018 when
the unemployment rate in the Bay of Plenty was 5.9%[1]. The current unemployment rate is
4.8%[2].

[1] As of December 2017.
Source: Infometrics2 As of December 2018. Source:
Infometrics

Kiwifruit Facts and
Figures• Kiwifruit is New Zealand’s
largest horticultural export.• New Zealand kiwifruit
production is expected to jump from 123 million trays in
2017 to 190 million trays in 2027.• The kiwifruit
industry’s revenue is expected to jump from $2.1 billion
in 2017 to $6 billion by 2030.• A critical labour
shortage could hinder this growth.• In comparison to
2017 numbers, the kiwifruit industry will require an
additional 7,000 workers by 2027.• In 2017 when the
minimum wage was $15,75, the average wage for picking
kiwifruit was $20.95.• The expected picking rate in
2019 is $23.50.

About New Zealand Kiwifruit
Growers IncorporatedNew Zealand Kiwifruit
Growers Incorporated (NZKGI) works to advocate, protect and
enhance the commercial and political interests of New
Zealand kiwifruit growers. We represent kiwifruit growers,
giving them their own voice in industry and government
decision making.Kiwifruit is by far
New Zealand’s largest fresh horticultural export, with
sales of NZ fruit in 2017/18 of NZ$1.7 billion. In 2017/18
over 2,500 growers sold 123 million trays of kiwifruit to
over 50 markets. The industry is experiencing strong growth
which is expected to continue over the coming
years.Our headquarters in the Bay of
Plenty, the geographic heart of the kiwifruit industry, is
the central hub for the NZKGI Executive Committee, Forum
members and staff.More information
about our portfolios of Industry Stability, Performance,
Communications, Labour & Education, External Relations and
Organisational Management can be found on our website: www.nzkgi.org.nz

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